CHAPTER 19
A few days passed away, and Catherine, though not allowing herself tosuspect her friend, could not help watching her closely. The result ofher observations was not agreeable. Isabella seemed an altered creature.When she saw her, indeed, surrounded only by their immediate friendsin Edgar's Buildings or Pulteney Street, her change of manners was sotrifling that, had it gone no farther, it might have passed unnoticed.A something of languid indifference, or of that boasted absence ofmind which Catherine had never heard of before, would occasionally comeacross her; but had nothing worse appeared, that might only have spreada new grace and inspired a warmer interest. But when Catherine saw herin public, admitting Captain Tilney's attentions as readily as they wereoffered, and allowing him almost an equal share with James in her noticeand smiles, the alteration became too positive to be passed over. Whatcould be meant by such unsteady conduct, what her friend could be at,was beyond her comprehension. Isabella could not be aware of the painshe was inflicting; but it was a degree of wilful thoughtlessness whichCatherine could not but resent. James was the sufferer. She saw himgrave and uneasy; and however careless of his present comfort the womanmight be who had given him her heart, to her it was always an object.For poor Captain Tilney too she was greatly concerned. Though his looksdid not please her, his name was a passport to her goodwill, and shethought with sincere compassion of his approaching disappointment; for,in spite of what she had believed herself to overhear in the pump-room,his behaviour was so incompatible with a knowledge of Isabella'sengagement that she could not, upon reflection, imagine him aware of it.He might be jealous of her brother as a rival, but if more had seemedimplied, the fault must have been in her misapprehension. She wished, bya gentle remonstrance, to remind Isabella of her situation, and makeher aware of this double unkindness; but for remonstrance, eitheropportunity or comprehension was always against her. If able to suggesta hint, Isabella could never understand it. In this distress, theintended departure of the Tilney family became her chief consolation;their journey into Gloucestershire was to take place within a few days,and Captain Tilney's removal would at least restore peace to every heartbut his own. But Captain Tilney had at present no intention of removing;he was not to be of the party to Northanger; he was to continue at Bath.When Catherine knew this, her resolution was directly made. She spoke toHenry Tilney on the subject, regretting his brother's evident partialityfor Miss Thorpe, and entreating him to make known her prior engagement.
”My brother does know it,” was Henry's answer.
”Does he? Then why does he stay here?”
He made no reply, and was beginning to talk of something else; but sheeagerly continued, ”Why do not you persuade him to go away? The longerhe stays, the worse it will be for him at last. Pray advise him for hisown sake, and for everybody's sake, to leave Bath directly. Absence willin time make him comfortable again; but he can have no hope here, and itis only staying to be miserable.”
Henry smiled and said, ”I am sure my brother would not wish to do that.”
”Then you will persuade him to go away?”
”Persuasion is not at command; but pardon me, if I cannot even endeavourto persuade him. I have myself told him that Miss Thorpe is engaged. Heknows what he is about, and must be his own master.”
”No, he does not know what he is about,” cried Catherine; ”he does notknow the pain he is giving my brother. Not that James has ever told meso, but I am sure he is very uncomfortable.”
”And are you sure it is my brother's doing?”
”Yes, very sure.”
”Is it my brother's attentions to Miss Thorpe, or Miss Thorpe'sadmission of them, that gives the pain?”
”Is not it the same thing?”
”I think Mr. Morland would acknowledge a difference. No man is offendedby another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman onlywho can make it a torment.”
Catherine blushed for her friend, and said, ”Isabella is wrong. But Iam sure she cannot mean to torment, for she is very much attached to mybrother. She has been in love with him ever since they first met, andwhile my father's consent was uncertain, she fretted herself almost intoa fever. You know she must be attached to him.”
”I understand: she is in love with James, and flirts with Frederick.”
”Oh! no, not flirts. A woman in love with one man cannot flirt withanother.”
”It is probable that she will neither love so well, nor flirt sowell, as she might do either singly. The gentlemen must each give up alittle.”
After a short pause, Catherine resumed with, ”Then you do not believeIsabella so very much attached to my brother?”
”I can have no opinion on that subject.”
”But what can your brother mean? If he knows her engagement, what can hemean by his behaviour?”
”You are a very close questioner.”
”Am I? I only ask what I want to be told.”
”But do you only ask what I can be expected to tell?”
”Yes, I think so; for you must know your brother's heart.”
”My brother's heart, as you term it, on the present occasion, I assureyou I can only guess at.”
”Well?”
”Well! Nay, if it is to be guesswork, let us all guess for ourselves. Tobe guided by second-hand conjecture is pitiful. The premises are beforeyou. My brother is a lively and perhaps sometimes a thoughtless youngman; he has had about a week's acquaintance with your friend, and he hasknown her engagement almost as long as he has known her.”
”Well,” said Catherine, after some moments' consideration, ”you may beable to guess at your brother's intentions from all this; but I am sureI cannot. But is not your father uncomfortable about it? Does not hewant Captain Tilney to go away? Sure, if your father were to speak tohim, he would go.”
”My dear Miss Morland,” said Henry, ”in this amiable solicitude for yourbrother's comfort, may you not be a little mistaken? Are you not carrieda little too far? Would he thank you, either on his own account orMiss Thorpe's, for supposing that her affection, or at least her goodbehaviour, is only to be secured by her seeing nothing of CaptainTilney? Is he safe only in solitude? Or is her heart constant to himonly when unsolicited by anyone else? He cannot think this--and you maybe sure that he would not have you think it. I will not say, 'Do notbe uneasy,' because I know that you are so, at this moment; but be aslittle uneasy as you can. You have no doubt of the mutual attachmentof your brother and your friend; depend upon it, therefore, thatreal jealousy never can exist between them; depend upon it that nodisagreement between them can be of any duration. Their hearts are opento each other, as neither heart can be to you; they know exactly whatis required and what can be borne; and you may be certain that one willnever tease the other beyond what is known to be pleasant.”
Perceiving her still to look doubtful and grave, he added, ”ThoughFrederick does not leave Bath with us, he will probably remain but avery short time, perhaps only a few days behind us. His leave of absencewill soon expire, and he must return to his regiment. And what will thenbe their acquaintance? The mess-room will drink Isabella Thorpe fora fortnight, and she will laugh with your brother over poor Tilney'spassion for a month.”
Catherine would contend no longer against comfort. She had resisted itsapproaches during the whole length of a speech, but it now carried hercaptive. Henry Tilney must know best. She blamed herself for the extentof her fears, and resolved never to think so seriously on the subjectagain.
Her resolution was supported by Isabella's behaviour in their partinginterview. The Thorpes spent the last evening of Catherine's stay inPulteney Street, and nothing passed between the lovers to exciteher uneasiness, or make her quit them in apprehension. James was inexcellent spirits, and Isabella most engagingly placid. Her tendernessfor her friend seemed rather the first feeling of her heart; but thatat such a moment was allowable; and once she gave her lover a flatcontradiction, and once she drew back her hand; but Catherine rememberedHenry's instructions, and placed it all to judicious affection. Theembraces, tears, and promises of the parting fair ones may be fancied.